The Potential of Ipê (Handroanthus SPP.) and Maçaranduba (Manilkara SPP.) Woods in the manufacture of bows for string instruments

Abstract

While the wood Caesalpinia echinata (pernambuco wood) is traditionally used in the manufacture of bows for string instruments, wood of other genera such as Handroanthus (syn. Tabebuia) and Manilkara are also used in bow making, but still on a very small scale. This study aims to evaluate the anatomical, chemical, physical, mechanical, and acoustic characteristics of these two latter woods, establishing their potential for bow making. Length, frequency of vessel elements and rays, and the higher percentage of fibers influence the density, modulus of elasticity, modulus of rupture, and the speed of sound propagation, whereas the content of lignin influence the sticks’ stiffness. It appears that Handroanthus bows can provide quality equivalent to that of pernambuco wood. Despite its appropriate heartwood color and texture, Manilkara provides bows of inferior quality.

Woods with physical, mechanical and acoustic properties similar to those of Caesalpinia echinata have high potential as alternative woods for bow makers

“…Alves et al (2008b) reported C. echinata wood showed about 60% of fibers, while that of Handroanthus spp. in the present study showed little difference at 55% of fibers (LONGUI et al, 2010b).…”

“…, these results suggest that density is not homogeneous along the stick, and, therefore, the stick would not meet the standard (LONGUI et al, 2010b). In fact, bow manufacture would be difficult under these circumstances since heterogeneity would lead to sections of increased resistance to cutting instruments along the stick, thus making it more difficult to provide equilibrium to the bow.…”

O arco de violino

“…Entre essas está a madeira de ipê (Handroanthus spp.) estudada por [51]. Fomin [32] obteve uma avaliação satisfatória por parte de músicos profissionais para arcos de alta qualidade construídos a partir de madeira de ipê.…”

“…Uma análise mais sofisticada [30,53] permite estabelecer um "índice de desempenho" (Performance Index -P I) para as madeiras usadas em arcos de instrumentos de cordas através da eq. (1), onde ρ é a densidade volumétrica da madeira.…”

“…Entre essas está a madeira de ipê (Handroanthus spp.) estudada por Longui et al [30,31] cuja análise de propriedades da madeira, construção de arcos e análise subjetiva por músicos foi o tema da dissertação de Fomin [32]. Materiais além de madeira [4,33,34], como fibra de vidro e fibra de carbono por exemplo, já foram utilizados.…”